Apparatus for playing baseball game



July 6, 1948. c. LENBOM I APPARATUS FOR PLAYING BASEBALL GAMES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1947 ooooooom-oL BLQSVQZI l i TU 21 GA T FIG. I.

\NVENTQR, C u NTON LEN 50M ATTORN av;

July 6, 1948. LENBOM 2,444,516

APPARATUS FOR PLAYING BASEBALL GAMES- Filed Aug. 19, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 o J v 25 I7 I: o :l 0

Fla. 5.v

\NVENTOFb CLINTON LENBOM ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 6, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Clinton Lenbom, Chetek, Wis.

Application August 19, 1947, Serial No. 769,336

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-430) This invention relates to an apparatus for playing a baseball game.

An object of the invention is to provide novel and efiicient means, whereby players can conveniently play baseball indoors or outdoors, as the players desire.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a novel and efiicient game-board upon which is mounted anovel dial, together with scoring units, and suitable and novel bat devices.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of efficient means for playing league baseball, by two people or by choosing-up teams; workup baseball can also be played.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

my invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in .the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top-plan view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary bottom-plan View of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5, Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated, I designates a gameboard which is provided at its center, and on its top, with a dial 2 of suitable raised material for the players .to be able to read the characters and symbols thereon, as hereinafter described.

Extending upwardly from the center of said dial 2 is a hollow sleeve 3. A ball and pointer device 4 is rotatably mounted upon said sleeve 3. This ball and. pointer device comprises an inclined arm 5, made of suitable wire, the arm being provided on its outer raised end with a ball 6, while the inner end of said arm 5 is positioned vertically and extends into said sleeve 3. The arm 5 is provided with a slightly enlarged portion I that prevents the arm from slipping down too far in sleeve 3; it keeps the integral pointer 8 in perfect condition for movement over the dial 2.

The dial 2 is provided with plain spaces 9, red spaces l0 and yellow triangular spaces H. Designating symbols are placed only on the plain spaces 9. The numerals used are l, 2 and 3, while the symbols used are I-IR, meaning home-runs; DP, meaning double play.

When the ball 6 is batted, the device 4 rotates, and when it stops rotating, the pointer 8 rests over one of the spaces on the'dial, registering the value of the play to the player who has caused the bat device to hit the ball, as will be'hereinafter more fully explained.

On the gameboard l are two scoring units l2. It will only be necessary to specifically describe one of these units, as both are alike. The scoring unit I2 includes a box I3 that has apertures or sockets I4 for receiving pegs, as shown in Fig. 5. The main part of the scoring unit is preferably divided into nine innings divisions, as shown at l5. In each inning, there are several apertures or sockets IE to receive the pegs that represent players who have reached one of the bases, or

who have scored. The scoring unit is also provided with three base-runner apertures I! for the purpose hereinafter described.

Each bat device is within the marginal edges of the gameboard l and comprises a rocker section l8 (Fig. 4) which ispositioned under the gameboard I and held in a rocking position by means of the longitudinally-extending strip l9 fastened to the bottom of the gameboard l. Integral with the rocker section I8 is an upstanding primary section 20 that has on its upper end an outwardlyextending horizontal knob-carrying section 2|. Extending upwardly from the inner end of rocker section I8 is an auxiliary section l2. Threaded on the auxiliary section 22 is a wood bat 23. The bat 23, sections 20 and 22, all rock or swing transversely of gameboard I. The sections 20 and 22 work in elongated transversely-extending apertures 24 and 25, respectively, Fig. 1.

The ball 6 is capable of being moved in position to be struck by the wood bat 23. After the ball 6 is struck. the bat 23 is rocked to a low position so that the ball 6 can pass freely over the bat 6 while rotating.

There are preferably six pegs 26, Fig. 6, three preferably red in color, and three preferably silver in color. Presuming that there are two players, each player is given three of these pegs '26, the players selecting the color of their preference. These pegs 26 are .to be placed in the base runner apertures I1, and when a hithas been made, one of these pegs 26 is placed in aperture 21, representing first base; aperture or socket 2-8 represents second base; aperture or socket 29 represents third base; and aperture 30 represents home plate. As hits are made, the base runner pegs are taken from apertures or sockets I! of the scoring unit l2, and placed around the diamond, according to the value of the hit or hits.

On the bottom of the gameb-oard l are placed braces 3|, each under a scoring unit [2, which so closes the apertures in the scoring unit, whereby the pegs wwin noti-drop throughthe gameboard I. On the bottom of'the gameboard I are'also blocks 32, each located on the corner of the gameboard. On each block 32 is secured a rubber cup 33:

or alterations as shall'f-aii'ly fall'within the scope These cups 33 act as a pad 'or supportptopreventscarring of the piece of furniture supporting the apparatus.

As before stated, three of-the pegs-26-arefurnished for each side, or each player, as base runners. Three red small pegs 34, Fig. 5, are fu'rnished to keep track ic if men out for each side. These-pegs 34 -are.1 placed in the box I 3, =-in" the le'fte'hand row,- then-' as each; player is out, .these pegs :-are -move'd-tor thei right-handrowof aper- :tures in box v I 3. As therscore-board :is divided into nine columns: l5, 'if the playerscoreswone in an inning, a white peg 35 (Fig.- 5)is placedin the column=of the inning being-=pla-yed; if the --sc0re.'ismore than five; take out white :pegs i and A puttin -a blue peg 38 whichv designates five runs,

=and-then-fconti-nueplaying with white until and when necessary to use a-blues peg;

If only two are playing,=the playersspreferably seat themselves opposite one another, and with 'a' bat device-in front of 'him'or-her. The pitching is done .with l thebat. Striking: the -ball toithe left so the balL spins clockewise is pitching lefthanded: Striking the 'ball to the right is pitching in the accompanying drawings, certain minor changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates during the extensive manufacture of the same, and I, therefore reserve the right tomake such changes of the appended claims.

What I claim is: =1."In' an -apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a gameboard, said gameboard provide'd near each end with two transverselyextending elongated apertures, a pair of bat deright-handed. The player-at bat-must-be alert if --he.-wants a-hit-with the bat-in front ofhim. The person- -pitching: can.put over -a-f-ast ball or slow ball,.--thus-fooling the, person at bat and-striking -him out. If the ball -is hit-andspins in thedirection.that it'waswhit, the" pointer 8 indicates on the dial-theresulting play; The-red spaces-1i) on the dial 2 indicatesfoutfl -Numbersl,..2 and 3 are base-hits, and .a baserunner should be placed .inaapertures. on the. diamond-to. indicate the value or. the. hit If the poin-ter, stops :on DP, then -a.-.double.play .lis. considered tolhave been made,.which.'result intwo men being-out, these men being represented by. the .Ipegs inbox .13. ,Ifffthe .pointer'8 stops,v on -a .yellow space, itlindicates .a ball. If ithe .pointervstops. ona yellow-.lmark four times, Lthen it is equivalent to .albase. on' balls;

If the 'ball"'-6is..'not I hit I-hard enough, andit comes back instead of. movingfiin thedire'c'tion, of. the blow, it" is called. a .fstrike? However, i in, such '.an l'instance, if ;-'.the pointer flaf'sto'ps on .a red space, the batter .is out, "the same .as.-if. a fo'ulball' is caught'l-bya catcher.

More than'two "persons can 'play thisfgame- It 'is. to be noted that the ball andjpointerde- 'vice" 4"is 'removably mounted i ontheupstanding sleevei 3;and' that ;the."woo'dibats23f are "screwed uponj'the' sections 22;". Therefore, 'the "'dVi'0e:"4

- and pointer device.

vices within the marginal edges of said gameboard, each bat device provided with a rocker section under said gameboard, said rocker section provided at-its inner :endwith .an upwardly-extending auxiliary section projectingthrough-one of said t transversely-extending elongated apertures, a: bat on said. auxiliary section above said -gameboard, -said rocker section provided at its outer end with an upstanding primarysection projecting. :throughwne: of said :transversely-extendingqelong'atedx apertures," said primary section provided with 'an' outwardlyeextending horizontal? section; said gameboardr provided between said sets of transversely-extending elongated apertures-with adiamond, aballand-pointer device pivotallymountedonsaid-gameboard at the center of said diamond, :andtheball of :said'ball andpointer? device-adapted to-beplaced in position to be struck by =-said=v bat :to rotatesaid ball 2. In an apparatus of'tthe class-described; the

combination of; a :gameboardpas pair :of bat ;de-

vices within the cmargin-aledges-tot said gameboard, each bat device provided--/With a rocker seotion under-the gameboard,-:a--strip under said .gameboard' wand supporting said. rocker: section,

said rocker section provided at its innerw end (with an upstandingauxiliary ----section projecting throughsaid gameboard, a bat threaded upon said auxiliary ,=section, said rockersectionprovided atits": outer. end with an upstanding primary section projecting through said-zg-ameboard,

,saidprimary. section, provided at. its upper-rend with .ahorizontal outwardly. extending knobcarrying section projecting .over. one edge-ofsaid A gameboard, a dial -:having-. numerals. and'symbols on said g-ameboard, a r'otatable ball.;and pointer device. on; said gameboard -with-the pointer above the dial, and said ball andcpointer devicebeing adapted to.;b e positioned-on saidgameboard so as vto placesaidball in the-path ofmovementof said. bat .lto be struck -by v said (bats to rotate said ball and pointer. device.

CLINTON-LENBOlS/L,

'REFEREN'CES CITED;

' The. following referencesjare of record in' the 'UNI'I'ED' STATES," PATENTS 'Date: 5' 

